Bubble cap and riser assembly



Sept. 1, 1953 L. P. wANslNK ET AL 2,650,809

BUBBLE CAP ANB BISBB ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 26, 1949 BY MB TOENEHS' Patented Sept. 1, 1953 BUBBLE CAP AND RISER ASSEMBLY Leo Paul Wansink, Altadena, and Charles L. Haynes, Flintridge, Calif., assignors to C. F.

Braun & Co., Alhambra of California Calif., a corporation Application September Z6, 1949, Serial N o. 117,908

Claims.

This invention relates to a bubble cap and riser assembly of the type used in liquid-vapor contact apparatus. Such apparatus is commonly employed in connection with processes for the rening of petroleum. This invention is particularly directed to improvements over the construction shown in the copending application of Charles L. Haynes for Bubble Cap, filed July 6, 1948, Serial No. 37,234, now Patent No. 2,602,652 of July 8, 1952.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved unitary assembly wherein the cap and riser are permanently xed together so that they may be installed and removed from the upper side of the tray plate as a single integral unit, and not as separate loose pieces.

Another object is to provide an improved bubble cap and riser assembly of this type which ls particularly adapted for production in quantity from light gauge sheet stock by means of punchpress operations.

Another object is to provide anr improved form. of releasable clamping device for securing the unitary assembly in position on the tray plate.

Another object is to provide an improved form of cylindrical riser which is rolled or stamped from sheet stock. Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing a bubble cap and riser assembly embodying our invention. y

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation, the parts of the assembly being illustrated in operative position upon the tray plate.

Figure 3 is a sectional View similar to Figure 2, but with the parts of the assembly being illustrated in released position preparatory to removal of the assembly from the tray plate.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of the riser, taken substantially on line 4-4 as shown on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing a side elevation of the latching cam which constitutes an element of the clamping device.

Figure 6 is a perspective view thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

The bubble cap and riser assembly, generally designated I0, is adapted to rest upon an apertured tray plate II. The assembly I 0 includes the cylindrical riser I3, the encircling bubble cap I4 and the hold-down device I5. The riser I3 and bubble cap I4 are permanently connected by a plurality of upright post elements I 6 2 and the hold-down device I5 is attached to th bubble cap I4. The assembly I9, therefore, may be installed and removed from the tray plate I I as a single unit and not as a series of separate loose pieces. Furthermore, the assembly In may be positioned on the tray plate II and secured in place by only one man working from the upper side of the tray plate I I. It is therefore unnecessary that men work in pairs, one above the tray plate and one below it, in order to install or remove the assemblies I0.

The riser I3 is constructed by forming a flat rectangular strip of suitable material I1 into a cylinder so that the ends I8 and I9 of the strip are in direct abutting contact. After the cylinder is formed, a plurality of radially projecting and circumferentially extending creases or beads 20 are forced into the Wall of the strip Il. These distorted portions 2t project beyond the outer surface 2I of the cylinder to provide an abutment. A continuous joint-free hoop or ring 22 is then installed on the riser I3 and the upper portion of this ring 22 engages the abutment provided by the distorted portions 2O so that upward movement of the ring 22 relative to the riser I3 is prevented. The ring 22 may be heated and then shrunk in place upon the riser, or installed by press t.

The function of the ring 22 is two-fold; it serves as a hoop to maintain the strip ends I9 and I9 in abutting relation under compression, and it provides a shoulder for supporting the bubble cap and riser assembly I9 upon the tray plate I I. A radial extending annular flange 23 forms this supporting shoulder and also serves to stiffen the ring 22 so that the riser is not easily distorted out of its cylindrical shape. The lower surface of the ange 23 is spaced axially from the lower end 24 of the riser cylinder so that the latter may extend into a tray plate opening 25 and serve as a pilot for locating the assembly I0.

The post elements I6 which connect the riser I3 to the bubble cap I4 are preferably formed of dat sheet stock and each is provided with projecting tabs 26, 21 and 28. The side tabs 25 and 21 extend through apertures in the Wall of the riser cylinder and are bent in opposite directions, as shown in Figure 1, to secure the post elements I6 to the riser I3. The upper tabs 28 extend through apertures in the upper surface v29 of the bubble-cap I4 and are bent over to secure the post elements I6 to the bubble cap I4. The post elements IB thus serve to unite the riser I3 and bubble cap I4 so that they comprise a openings in the tray plate ll, so that the' feet 3l and 32 may each underlie.arlSLOrtionV of the tray plate II. An upwardly facing contact shoulder 33 is provided on each of the; feet-3l and 32 and these shoulders 3,3 engage, the-'unf' derside of the tray plate I I. y

The hold-down device I5 also includes a cam element 34 which is connectedtby pivot pin 35- to the upwardly projecting neck 35'provided on the Wishbone member 39. The neck 36j projects through a slot 3l in the upper surface 29 of the bubblecaplf'i. The Wishbone member 33 is assembled; with respect to the bubble cap I4 by moving the neck 35 upwardly through thev slot 31 and then attachingthe cam element 34 by means of, the pivot pin 35. A lost motion connection is thus provided between the bubble cap I4 and the hold-down member or Wishbone. Accidental or inadvertent' disassembly of the bubble cap I4 and holddown device i5 is thereby prevented. Since the width of the slot 3ly is greater than the width of the neck 35, the hold-down device I5 may have lateral swinging movement within the bubble cap I4.

The element 3.4. is provided with parallel wing portions 33' which are spaced to denne a central slot for reception of the upper end of the neck 36. The wing portions 33 have similar cam surfaces 39 each provided with a series of rounded projections 43. The crests of the projections in this series areA not uniformly spaced from the axis of the pivot pin, but on the contrary the spacing increases uniformly, step-by-step, from first projection 4Go te the last projection 43h. Each of the projections in the series on each Wing portion 3S. is adapted to cooperate withv one of a pair of dimples or small raised portions 4I formed in the upper surface 29 of the bubble cap I4 on opposite sides of the slot 3l.

When the bubble cap and riser assembly i-sto be clamped in place the cam element' 34 is turned in a1 clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 5) about the-pivot pin rThe coactionbetween the cam surfaces 3S and the upper portion of the bubble cap i4 serves to raise the neck 36 of the hold-down member and thereby bringl the shoulders 33 onthe feet 3| and 32 into` engagement with theunderside of-thetray plate I I. The projectionsl 453 and dimplesv 4i maintain the cam element 34 in latched position. A limit, stop'42 is; provided on eachY of the wingportions 38 of the camelement. These limit stops 42, engage the upper surface 2i!y of the bubble Cap I4 to limit turning movement of the cam element in a direction to tighten the hold-down device. A relief portion 43 is also provided on the cam element 34. As shown in Figure 3, when the cam element 34 is turned to. bring the relief portion 43 into a position parallel with the upper surface 29 of the bubble cap I4, the hold-down member 30 may be lowered for its maximum extent with respect to thebubble cap I4 and riser I3.

T o. install the bubble cap and riser assembly I0 upon the tray plate. II, the cam element 34 is turned tothe position Viewed in Figure 3. The assembly I0 is; tilted or canted sufficiently.A to insert the feet 3| and 32 of the hold-down member into the tray plate aperture 25. This action is facilitated by the looseness of the neck 36 within the slot 31 which enables the holddown device I5 to have limited lateral swinging movement relative to the bubble Cap and riser. The lower skirt portion 24 of the riser I3 is then lowered into the. opening 25 toY act. as a pilot, and the lange 23 on the ring 22 rests upon the tray plate lI. The cam element 34 is then turned in a clockwise Vdirection as viewed in the drawings to bring the feet 3l and 32 into engagement with the underside. of .the tray plate II, and thus prevent.l displacement of the assembly I0. The hold-down` device l5 is automatically centered within the riser I3 by cooperative engagement ot thetaperedsurfaces 45 with the lower end of the riser I3 as the hold-down device I5 is raised by means'of the cam element 34. In operative position the surfaces 4S lift loosely within the bore 'o -i Athe riser I3.

-To remove the assembly .I from the tray plate I I,x the, cam` element.4 is returned to the` inoperative .position shown inl Figure, 3. Suflcient relative movement is then permitted between the riser I3 and hold-down member 3G to permit the riser I3 and bubble cap |42- to be raised as a unit until the lower skirt 24 on the riser I3 is withdrawn clear of the tray plate opening 25. The assembly I0 may then be shifted to one side and tilted to enable thefeet. SI and 342 of the hold-down member 30 to be withdrawn from the opening 25.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that We do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

. 1. In a bubble cap and riser assembly for use on an apertured tray plate, the combination of: a riser, a bubble cap supported by the riser and provided with an opening, a hold-down member extending within the riser and having a stem portion slidably received in said opening, the holddown member having projecting foot elements extending laterally beyond the lower portion of the riser to underliethe tray plate, and a cam element ypivotally mounted on said stem portion of the hold-down member,l the cam element having a cam surface engaging the upper surface of the bubble cap for moving the hold-down member relative to the bubble cap, the cam surface being `provided with a series of rounded projections cooperating with a protuberance on the bubble cap -to maintain the; parts in operative position.

-2. In a bubble cap and riser assembly for use on an apertured tray plate, the combination of a riser, a bubble, capvsupported by the riser and provided with an opening, a hold-down member extending within the riser' and having a stem portion slidably received in said opening, the hold-down member havingy projecting foot elements extending laterally beyond the lower portion of the riser to underlie the tray plate, and a cam element turnably mounted on said stem portion of the hold-down member, the cam element having a pair of parallel wing portions, dening a slot to receive said stem portion, each of the wing portions having a cam surface. engaging the upper surface of the bubble cap for moving the hold-down member relative to the bubble cap.

3. In a. bubble capv and riser assembly for use on an apertured tray plate, the combinationv of: a, riser, a bubble; cap supported by the riser and provided-'with an opening, ahold-down member extending within the riser and having a stem portion slidably received in said opening, the hold-down member having projecting foot elements extending laterally beyond the lower portion of the riser to underlie the tray plate, and a cam element turnably mounted on said stem portion of the hold-down member and engaging the upper surface of the bubble cap for moving the hold-down member relative to the bubble cap, the cam element having a limit stop thereon engageable with the bubble cap to limit the force which may be applied by the cam element to raise the hold-down member.

4. Hold-down apparatus for a bubble cap and riser assembly comprising in combination: a hold-down member having a stem portion adapted to be slidably received in an opening in the bubble cap, the hold-down member having projecting foot elements adapted to extend laterally beyond the lower portion of the riser, and a cam element turnably mounted on said stem portion of the hold-down member, the cam element having a pair of parallel wing portions dening a slot to receive said stem portion, each of the wing portions having a cam surface provided with a series of rounded projections for engaging the upper surface of the bubble cap.

5. In a bubble cap and riser assembly for use on an apertured tray plate, the combination of: a riser, a bubble cap supported by the riser and provided with an opening, a hold-down member extending within the riser and having a stem portion slidably received in said opening for vertical movement, the hold-down member having projecting foot elements extending laterally beyond the lower portion of the riser to underlie the tray plate, means forming a lostl motion connection to prevent separation of the bubble cap and hold-down member, said means including a cam element pivotally mounted on said stem portion of the hold-down member, the cam element having a cam surface provided with a series of rounded projections engaging the upper surface of the bubble cap for moving the holddown member relative to the bubble cap, whereby the bubble cap, riser and hold-down member may be installed as a unitary assembly upon the tray plate.

LEO PAUL WANSINK. CHARLES L. HAYNES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number VName Date 1,796,256 Seeland Mar. 10, 1931 y1,873,137 Laird Aug. 23, 1932 1,876,179 Tindall Sept. 6, 1932 2,338,928 Glitsch Jan. 11, 1944 2,351,855 Harris June 20, 1944 2,398,953 OBrien Apr. 23, 1946 2,422,300 Glitsch June 17, 1947 2,443,812 Ackroyd June 22, 1948 2,455,083 Reed July 13, 1948 2,508,041 Rapisarda May 16, 1950 

